Florida's Goss gains support as a successor (CIA)

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Jun. 04, 2004

CONGRESS

Florida's Goss gains support as a successor

Rep. Porter Goss, a Republican from Sanibel with extensive intelligence experience, garnered bipartisan support to become the new director of the CIA.

BY FRANK DAVIES
[e-mail]


WASHINGTON - Rep. Porter Goss, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, attracted widespread support on Capitol Hill Thursday as the logical replacement for George Tenet, and a senior administration official said Goss was a leading candidate.

Several key Democrats, including Florida's two senators, said they would support Goss, a Sanibel Republican, for CIA director, at least for the duration of the Bush administration.

''He's an outstanding public servant -- I would recommend him highly,'' said Sen. Bob Graham, who co-chaired the joint investigation of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks with Goss.

Graham and Goss have been close colleagues for many years, although they split on the Iraq war, which Graham opposed. Both are serving their last year in Congress.


http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/8833686.htm
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Florida's Sen. Bob Graham, and Porter Goss

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

1. Republican from Florida...

... running the CIA? I don't think so, I smell Jebby all over it. Why not just pick Tom Delay from Texas and make things more transparent?

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Bob Graham seems to like the idea

Do you think that he is in on it?

[rooboy]

2. Nothing like a good Bush apologist to protect the American people.. n/t

[teryang]

3. Keeping a lid on 911

Goss sucks. So does Graham. When they met with Mohammed Atta's paymaster from Pakistan before 911, what were they discussing?

[leesa]

9. Exactly. They were all part of it.

[dusty64]

4. This doesn't sound good

to me either.

[salin]

5. I would think that we need someone

who is NOT going to play politics (e.g., pander to a republican WH with what THEY want; or work against a democratic WH). During initial reviews of 911 - he helped lead a white wash, even though the committee had access to some very troubling information.

Think this would be, to the BUsh WH, like throwing oil on a fire.

[Justice]

6. I always thought Richard Shelby Wanted to Be CIA Director

not that he would be much better.

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. A lot of people probably want the job

[Don_G]

10. For Six Months?

I just wonder how much paper could be shredded between the appointment and the next democratic administration in January.

[MaineDem]

11. I heard there won't be a permanent DCI until after the election

The talking heads were speculating on that yesterday.

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. CIA directors often serve past the term of the President who appoints them

Tenet was appointed by Clinton, and Bush kept him on.

[yellowcanine]

21. I agree - lot's of James Bond wannabes - even though the DCI job is mainly

a bureaucratic position, it gives one access to all ot the cloak and dagger stuff going on around the world.

[CBHagman]

12. I'm uneasy about this.

When listening to what Goss has to say during his press appearances, I was struck by the fact that he adopted a more partisan tone than did, say, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas. I fear Goss would merely be a yes person to the Bush administration and allow politics, not facts, to determine policies. If they put forth Goss as a candidate, I'm going to raise unadulerated hell with the powers that be. It's a perfectly wrong way to handle what really should be a turning point in intelligence operations in this nation.

[Frodo]

13. Is broad Democratic support a sign that his seat could be in play?

I don't know Florida districts very well, but I know that previous gerrymandering means there are more republicans than needed in a pretty 50/50 state. Maybe some of them are in "close" districts?


One more competitive seat can only help. And being in Florida helps Kerry too.


Does anyone know?

[Freddie Stubbs]

15. He was retiring anyway and his district is pretty solidly Republican

Bush won it in 2000 with 61% of the vote.

[BeachBuckeye]

18. Republican "Carpetbagger" Connie Mack

Will win the seat in a walk.

[The Magistrate]

16. Goss Is A Swine

He was an eager participant in the '98 Coup, being one of the principal purveyors of the lie that President Clinton supplied missile secrets to the Chinese. He has no business in the Congress, let alone as chief of the intelligence services.

"Treason doth never prosper, what;s the Reason? Why, when it prosper, Sir, none dare call it Treason!"

"LET'S GO GET THOSE BUSH BASTARDS!"

[BeachBuckeye]

17. I know and admire Bob Graham but....

I called his office and let him know how disappointed I am that he would support Goss for the CIA job. Goss is my congressman and is the lazziest man in Washington. A very bad move on Graham's part.

[soup]

22. Goss' record according to Project VoteSmart has

achieved complete kiss-butt status:

Roll Call Vote Analysis
Year Voting Participation Party Support Presidential Support
2003 95% 96% 100%
2002 98% 95% 92%
2001 98% 97% 95%
2000 99% 95% 26%
1999 99% 91% 28%
http://www.vote-smart.org/bio.php?can_id=H0846103

100% *Presidential Support for 2003. Lovely, just lovely.

[progressivebydesign]

19. FLORIDA? That's just creepy..

What's up with Florida? Ever since JFK's assasination, wierd things have been centered in Florida. Every time something wierd politically happens, a trail leads to Florida.

Now, I'm sure it's a lovely place, with many nice people and attractions. BUT.. politically? It's a cesspool. And there is something scary there... (not just Jeb Bush). What is the politcal significance of Florida? Why does it have so many wierd connections, especially with the Bush family? What's there?

[teryang]

23. Well Florida is a top five state

...with a large population. It has a massive uncontrolled border, great for smuggling narcotics and illegal aliens and conducting covert operations. It also has beaucoup private airfields and the greatest number of private vessels in the country. It also has Centcom and the CIA operating out of Tampa. One time I came across a CIA sponsored social organization for accountants. What do you think is up with that? Money laundering? Fraud? Then there are all the offshore tax havens nearby used by corporations and the super rich to hide their income from taxes. It also has a large number of military bases. With his brother in the governor's office controlling the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Secretary of State's office, just about any dirty trick or election fraud goes here.

One last thing I failed to mention, Florida ranks near the bottom in education and worker's rights. The population on the average isn't very well educated if you go by high school and college degrees.

[yellowcanine]

20. How tight is Goss with the Miami Cubans? I would take it as a plus if

they don't like him.

[struggle4progress]

24. kick

:kick: